Head of the UGCC in the 173rd Week of the War: Pope Leo XIV Asked Russia to Show a Sign of Peace—Instead, It Gave a Deadly Sign of War
Russia has given a sign of further escalation—a sign of contempt for everything we mean and understand by the sacred word “peace.” This was stated by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, in the 173rd week of the Russian Federation’s brutal war against Ukraine.
Destruction following heavy Russian shelling on June 6, 2025, Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine
The Primate noted that this week was marked by pain, blood, tears, and fire, bringing new deaths, casualties, and injuries to the Ukrainian people and land. The enemy shelled peaceful settlements, and along the Russian border near Sumy Oblast, the forced evacuation of residents from frontline towns and villages has begun. This has triggered a new wave of refugees and internally displaced persons in Ukraine.
According to the spiritual leader, the entire world was watching the phone call between the Russian president and Pope Leo XIV, during which the Holy Father asked Russia to show some sign of peace and willingness to end this senseless war. “And yet, on the night of June 6, Russia gave such a sign—but it was a terrible, deadly one…”
“It was a sign of further escalation, a sign of contempt for everything we call and understand by the holy word ‘peace,’” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
“Today,” the spiritual leader continued, “Ukraine, together with the entire Christian world, celebrates a great feast—Pentecost—the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and all humanity. It is the birthday of Christ’s Church, when the Lord renews the grace of the Holy Spirit in our communities, souls, and hearts. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of hope for Ukraine, who fills our hearts with divine love and renews in us the gift of God’s sonship.”
Today, wounded Ukraine cries out: “Come, Holy Spirit, renew us, comfort us, lift us up, heal us, and restore in our hearts the gift of Christian hope.”
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Video-message of the Head of the UGCC on the 173rd Week of Full-Scale War, June 8, 2025
This week also marked the end of the academic year in Ukrainian schools and higher education institutions. His Beatitude Sviatoslav expressed his gratitude to those who taught and studied, who gave and received, who cared and shared.
The UGCC Department for Information
